Pressure-operated lubricator.



' C. A. PHELPS.

PRESSURE OPERATED LUBRICATOR. APPILICATIOVN FILED 1AN.22. 1916.

1, 181 ,344, v Patented May 2, 1916.

5140214 for @Afiwljm Qflvmm THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. I). c.

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CHARLES ALBERT PHELPS, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

PRESSURE-OPERATED LUBRICATOR.

-Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed January 22, 1916. Serial No. 73,664.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county of Verm1l1on and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Operated Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pressure operated lubricating means adapted for use upon railway locomotives, while not restricted to such use.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, having means to introduce pressure, preferably saturated steam, into the conduit or pipe leading from the lubricator to the cylinders or other parts of the engine,

. to boost or aid in the feeding of the lubricant.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character, embodying a booster valve structure, having common means to open and close all valves therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure l is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same in use, 1 1g. 2 is an end elevation of the same, and, Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the booster valve structure.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a boiler of a railway locomotive, having a steam fountain 6.

The numeral 7 designates a lubricator, holding a liquid lubricant. This lubricator is provided with a dome 8, communicating therewith.

The numeral 9 designates my improved booster valve structure, as a whole. This booster valve structure embodies casing sections 10 and 11, arranged in end to end relation and having screw-threaded engagement with an interior bushing or sleeve 12, having a bore of a substantially large diameter. Having screw-threaded engagement with the outer end of the casing section .10 is an extension sleeve 13, having a screwthreaded opening. This extension sleeve carries a stuffing box 13, as shown. The casing section 11 has screw-threaded engage ment with an interior bushing or sleeve 14, extending into a casing section 15, and having screw-threaded engagement therewith.

iflxtending longitudinally through the several casing sections is a valve-stem 16, o crating through the bushings 12 and 14 and stuffing box 13. The valve stem 16 fits snugly within the bore of the bushing 14 and forms a steam tight joint therewith, whereby the interior of easing sections 11 and 15 have no communication. The valve stem 16 also extends through the bore of the bushing 12, but this bore is substantially greater in diameter than the valve-stem, whereby communication may be established between the interior of the casing sections 10 and 11.

The valve-stem 16 has screw-threaded connection within the sleeve extension 13, as shown at 17, and extends outwardly beyond the stufiing box 13, as shown. Rigidly connected with the valve-stem 16 is a hand wheel 18, for turning it.

Connected with the valve-stem 16, adjacent one end of the bushing 12 is a valve 19, to move longitudinally therewith, and contact with the end 20 of this bushing, which serves as a valve seat. The inner end of the valve-stem 16 is provided with a screw-threaded reduced extension 20, receiving thereon an internally screw-threaded ring 21. A grooved holding ring 22 fits upon the inner ring 21 and is exteriorly screw-threaded, for engagement with the in terior screw-threads of a valve 28. This valve is adapted to engage and disengage a valve seat 24, in the casing section 15, for covering and uncovering an opening 25. The construction of the valve structure is such that both valves 19 and 23 are simultaneously seated and unseated.

Connected with the casing section 11 is a pipe 26, communicating with the steam fountain 6. Having connection with the casing section 10 is a pipe 27, leading into the dome 8.

The numeral 28 designates a pipe which extends through the boiler sheet and into the boiler for a suitable distance for direct communication with the supply of saturated steam. This pipe 28 has screw'threa'ded en gagement with the end 29 0f the casing section 15. The casing section 15 is provided pipes 83. The branch pipes are connected with T-couplings 34, connected in lubricant supply pipes 35, which are connected with the lubricator 7 and lead to the cylinders of the engine. It is obvious that additional pipes may be connected with the lubricator and lead to different parts of the engine, such as valves or the like, to be lubricated.

The ope 'ation of theapparatus is as follows: hen the hand wheel 18 is properly rotated the valve-stem 16 is moved longitudinally in one direction, and the valves 19 and 23 unseated. Steam from the steam fountain 6 passes through pipe 526, casing section 11, bushing 12, casing section 10, pipe 27, dome 8, and into the lubricator 7,

for placing the lubricant therein under suitable pressure; The pressure upon the lubricant within the lubricator 7 forces the same through the pipes 35, which lead to the cylinders of the engine. While the lubricant is being fed through the pipes 35 under pressure from the lubricator 7, saturated steam passes through pipe 28, opening 25, casing section 15, pipe 31, pipes 33, and into pipes 35, to boost or assist in feeding the lubricant to the cylinders of the engine. This construction is particularly advantageous as the saturated steam is also a lubricant, and its continuous flow into the cylinders of the engine is beneficial. The apparatus also serves as a drifting throttle, when the engine is operating with the steam cut off from the cylinders. The apparatus is adapted to be used with saturated steam engines or superheated steam engines, while its use is more advantageous with super-heated steam engines, as the flow of saturated steam to the cylinders, when the super-heated engines are drifting, tends to reduce the high temperature of the cylinders and valves, thus eliminating the destruction of the valves and cylinder rings, and avoiding the cutting of the valve and cylinder chambers.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the sameyand that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be re*, sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-\ joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a lubricator, a pressure supply conduit con nected therewith, a lubricant conducting conduit connected with the lubricator, a steam pressure conduit leading into the lubricant conducting conduit exteriorly of the lubricator, a cut off valve connected in the pressure supply conduit, a second cut off valve connected in the steam pressure supply conduit, and common means to operate the first and second named valves.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a lubricator, lubricant conducting conduits connected therewith and leading to the cylinders of an engine, a valve structure embodying a casing having three chambers with two of the chambers having means of communication with each other and the third chamber having no means of 'communication with the two chambers, a valve stem movably mounted within the casing of the valve structure, a valve secured to the valve stem and controlling the communication between the two chambers, a second valve secured to the valve stem and controlling the passage of fluid into the third chamher, a conduit connected with a source of steam pressure and discharging into one of the two chambers, a conduit leadinginto the other of the two chambers and communicating with the interior of the lubricator, a conduit having communication with a source of saturated steam and connected with, the third chamber, and a conduit receiving saturated steam from the third chamber and connected with the lubricant conducting con duit exteriorly of its connection with the lubricator.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ALBERT PHELPS.

lVitnesses V. B. HARRINGTON, R. W. VVnsTrALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. I). G. 

